The one who gently held her feet and carefully applied medicine to her wounds was here.

  She let out a breath and said with a hint of relief, "Young Master Wei is right, we were in the wrong first. However, we didn't have any malicious intentions, it's just that we came from a remote rural area and admired Lord Wei's good reputation, so we wanted to take advantage of this rare opportunity to enter the capital and personally come to inquire about your lordship's interesting stories. Therefore, we disturbed the mansion, please forgive us."

  Xie Wan usually didn't show anxiety or impatience, always with a calm and confident demeanor. Luo Sheng thought that just now she had directly clashed with the Ding family without considering the consequences, but seeing her suddenly return to her usual calm self was somewhat unexpected.

  Xie Wan did not put their gaze in her heart.

  Wei Xiao is her benefactor, although he doesn't remember her. But this won't stop her from remembering that there's someone in the world who once gave her warmth and care when she needed it most, protecting her until she reached a safe place.

  Although in her eyes, he was just a half-grown child at that time.

  Wei Xiao saw her calm and composed demeanor, but also had a hint of infatuation.

  At first, I thought she was a wicked person who would inform on others, and even after listening to her explanation, I only felt that she had a bit more sense of propriety than an unreasonable person. But now, seeing the faint yet determined smile between her eyebrows, I'm not so sure anymore.

  He has seen so many girls, and it is rare for him to personally rescue a servant.

  He could see that the girl who had just scolded the servant and the self-assured person in front of him were both her true selves. How could a girl of only ten or so have so many faces?

  He felt a surge of curiosity and took two steps forward, asking: "Just now you said you came from a remote rural area. Where are you from?"

  Xie Wan looked at him: "Hejian Prefecture, Qinghe County."

  "Hebei Prefecture?" Wei Xiao's eyes lit up instantly. "I often go to Hebei Prefecture, my maternal grandparents' home is in Hebei Prefecture."

  Xie Wan raised an eyebrow and nodded: "Is that so? What a coincidence."

  She didn't mean to bring up the past with him. For someone like Wei Qian, saying something like "I regard you as a benefactor" to his face would be too pretentious. He wouldn't care about her gratitude anyway. In that case, it was enough if she just remembered it in her heart.

  She didn't intend to get entangled with him either, although he came from a good family background as Wei Bin's son, but having no achievements or merits, he couldn't help her much in the things Xie Wan wanted to do.

  Of course, she never thought of using him to achieve any goal either.

  There are so many people in the world who can be used, but you can't use someone who has helped you.

  Being able to see him today, knowing where he is and that he's safe is enough.

  Luoji quickly untied his bonds and blushed as he silently bowed to her.

  Xie Wan smiled and nodded at Wei Cai: "Thank you, Mr. Wei, for sparing my life."

  Wei Xiao wanted to say something more. After thinking for a moment, he just nodded and watched them leave.

  He got on the horse-drawn carriage, and the flush on Luo's face had yet to fade.

  He apologized to Xie Wan: "I didn't handle a small matter well. On the contrary, I implicated Miss and made her appear in public. I deserve to die."

  Xie Wan asked: "How did he notice you?"

  Luo said: "Yesterday night, Xiao arrived near the Wei mansion and first observed from that alley. Then, pretending to look for someone, he chatted with a maid who came out, but somehow was discovered by Young Master Wei. Without saying anything, he tied me up under the tree."

  As he spoke, he rubbed his numb and chilly arms secretly.

  Xie Wan handed him a warmer through the curtain and then handed out a cup of hot tea.

  I didn't expect Wei Qian to look like an ordinary young noble, but his mind is actually quite meticulous. He knew not to fall into the trap and even tied himself to a tree to lure out the person behind him. Considering his current age, it's not bad at all. Fortunately, Luo Ju didn't really go investigate what was going on in the Wei household, otherwise, it might not have been so easy to escape.

  "If you happen to meet Mr. Wei in the future, be polite."

  Later she might have to transport grain from the capital's docks, coming and going, it's hard to avoid running into each other.

  The four of them exchanged a glance, but all had a hint of excitement and closed their mouths tightly.

  After resting for a night at the inn, it was already the "two days" that Xie Wan had mentioned regarding Zhao Zhen's matter. In the face of official business, the encounter with Wei Cuo was like snowflakes flying outside the window, once past, they were gone.

  For the past two days, Wu Xing has been idling around in the front hall of the inn, gathering information about the officials who will be evaluating his performance. Meanwhile, Luo Ju has been keeping an eye on Zhao Zhen's movements.

  As expected, Director Zhao has been running around everywhere after leaving the Ministry of Justice these two days, but nothing has come of it. It's clear that relying on his own strength to get promoted is extremely difficult.

  Xie Wan sat on the couch for a moment and said: "What about the Jingfu these past two days?"

  "The Jingfu is still the same, with many people coming but few entering, and those who enter are mostly disappointed. It seems that Lord Jing is not just unwilling to give Zhao Zhen face, but he has always been a person who doesn't understand these things."

  Luo Ju's words were filled with deep admiration, as if Jing Yong was the embodiment of a fair and upright Bao Zheng.

  But if he was really clean and upright, how could he afford to live in such a mansion? The Jingfu Mansion may not be large, but it is located in the best location in Xicheng District, Lu Ming Hutong. Lu Ming Hutong is called Lu Ming Hutong because it used to be a large deer garden of the royal family, and later it gradually became a gathering place for high-ranking officials in Beijing, with a price that has never been low.

  Luo Ju was not familiar with the capital, so he naturally didn't know this. But Xie Wan had been in the capital for many years. In his previous life when he went to visit with Xie Ceng, Jing Yong had already risen to the position of Imperial Inspector of the Capital, and the Jing manor had also moved to Wangfu Street in the eastern part of the city.

  Everyone knows that the water in the well is deep, but few know how deep it is.

  Jing Yong may not be a greedy person at heart, but when you are in such a big environment, you occupy a position in the court, listening to the flattery of your subordinates, and still showing your unwillingness to go with the flow with a clean and honest attitude, how can you let so many people with not-so-clean hands survive?

  You don't want to be greedy. There are people who are willing to be greedy。 As a result, the usual fate of those who rely on their own proud bones but also want to do official business is to be pushed down by others and then promote someone who can breathe with them。 Even if you want to turn a blind eye and not interfere with them, others are afraid that you will block their path to wealth。

  If you want to play the high-end, then get off the stage and play the high-end alone! There are not many three-legged frogs in the world, but are there fewer two-legged literati?

  Going with the flow is not necessarily a good thing, but in official circles, it can sometimes be a way of self-protection.

  Jing Yong is not a clean and honest person at all, otherwise, how could he help Xie Rong enter the Hanlin Academy?

  Jing Yong is not someone who can be swayed by money. Zhao Zhen's two pieces of Shoushan stone may not be as valuable as gold or silver, but they are enough to promote a seventh-rank official to a higher position. It's more than enough. Zhao Zhen's failure is not because he didn't offer enough money, but because in Jing Yong's eyes, he doesn't have the qualifications to make him take action.

  Xie Rong has this qualification.

  No talented person will be buried by dust, let alone Xie Rong is such a dazzling person.

  Jing Yong could easily see his value, and his own goal was also to climb up. Although his help may not be limited to just Xie Rong, having one more Xie Rong wasn't adding another force? So he would rather turn back to persuade Xie Guang brother and sister to surrender to the Xie Mansion, and accept Xie Rong's encouragement.

  What truly moved Yong was not those slandering rumors, but Xie Rong himself.

  But if it weren't for the fact that the Xie and Jing families were related, how would Xie Rong have easily gotten in? Among the many talented people who came to the capital, there were at least a dozen or so who ranked higher than Xie Rong among the jinshi of the same year. In the Sheng Ji Ju, there were many more talents, and even among those who had a chance to be appointed to the Hanlin Academy along with him, there were five people. Didn't they ever think of seeking Jing Yong's help?

  What makes Xie Rong able to easily enter the Yu estate and persuade Yu Yong to take action?

  It was just because of his special trip back to the capital. As Xie Qigong said: "Jin Yong is a key figure."

  After all, Xie Rong's opportunity was still borrowed from the second house's connections.

  He and Jing Yong have already tied up their interests together.

  So, Jing Yongcai would receive a letter written by Xie Wan and delay responding.

  Xie Wan let Luo Sheng carefully prepare for a while.

  The next morning, he waited for Luo Zhu to return and say that Jing Yong had returned to the mansion from the government office, then took the visiting card and went to the Jing Mansion.

  Jing Yong heard that Xie Wan had personally come to the capital, and thought it was a mistake. He asked the doorman who delivered the letter twice to confirm before letting her in, while also going to the backyard to inform Madame He.

  He's family had met Xie Teng before when they were in Qinghe, and she had also heard from her husband and mother-in-law about how difficult it was for this uncle of the Xie family. Although they had become estranged now, since the other party's daughter had come to visit in person, she still had to show some respect. So she hastily tidied herself up, called her trusted maid Cui Niangniang to bring their daughter Jingting, and headed towards the second gate together.

  Jing Yong and He stood under the hanging flower gate, saw a girl who was not yet full-grown come down from the carriage, guessed it was Xie Wan, and immediately walked over with a smile.

  Xie Wan sized up the two of them for a moment, then bowed and addressed them as "Uncle" and "Aunt", also exchanging greetings with Jing Ting as sisters, before being led into the courtyard by He Shi.

  Jing's family has a daughter and two sons, both of whom are older than Xie Wan. His daughter, Jing Ting, is half a year younger than Xie Wan and is a very well-behaved girl who has been quietly sizing up Xie Wan.

  Mr. Jing's wife is now paralyzed in bed and cannot speak, Xie Wan entered the house and paid her respects, explaining her identity, and Mr. Jing's wife shed two lines of tears from the corners of her eyes. Xie Wan also knew that the old lady was thinking of someone she missed, and thought of the late Mrs. Jing with a heavy heart, asked a few questions, and then left with tears in her eyes.

  The two sides naturally couldn't avoid some small talk.

  Jing Yong asked Xie Wan how she ended up in the capital, and Xie Wan said it was to accompany her uncle Qi Song to purchase goods. It could be seen that Jing Yong's mood wasn't bad, and they chatted about what had happened after they parted ways. At first, they sighed for a while, then mentioned Xie Teng and his wife, and couldn't help but feel sad again. It wasn't until they asked about Xie Can's studies that the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

  PS: Thanks for the peace symbol from vivian2512 and the perfect score evaluation vote from book friend 140209113751238~~~Thanks to you all